SCARF GAP AND BLACKS AIL. 175 



G-ap and Blacksail. In Ennerdale valley, wind 

 and rain met them. They struggled 

 TouMSTs. part of the way along Blacksail, when 

 they became bewildered, and soon so 

 exhausted that they had a narrow escape with 

 their lives. But for a brandy-flask, which one of 

 them carried, they could not have survived. The 

 pony seems to have sunk as rapidly as the men. 

 These gentlemen have publicly suggested the erec- 

 tion of some conspicuous landmarks, to show the 

 track; and they have uttered their warning, in 

 corroboration of so many others, against crossing 

 mountains without a guide. One of their chief 

 difficulties was the paths being turned into water- 

 courses, and thereby disguised. It was on the 

 same track that the three Kendal young ladies, 

 mentioned by Mr. Green in his " Guide " (two of 

 whom are still living) lost their way, from dismis- 

 sing their guide too soon, and actually stayed all 

 night on the mountain, where if it had not been 

 fine summer weather, they would have perished. 

 They took a guide over Scarf Gap, and as far as 

 the junction of the three roads from Buttermere, 

 Ennerdale, and Wastdale. The guide left them on 

 the right road, and with full information as to the 

 rest of the way : they took the wrong side of the 

 brook, however, and so got bewildered. It was 

 only 4 p.m., when the guide left them : but darkness 

 overtook them still wandering. When they came 

 down again upon Tyson's house, early in the morn- 

 ing, the family could not believe the story of their 

 descent, so perilous was the way they had come. 

 One of the ladies had, however, lost a pocket-book, 

 and they had seen a dead sheep : and, somebody 



